COVID-19 vaccination opportunities: week of November 29, 2021

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is offering several convenient opportunities in the Sudbury & Manitoulin districts this week to help you get your COVID-19 vaccine. Don’t delay. Get your first and second dose as soon as possible and your third dose if you are eligible. A reminder that second and third dose appointments must be booked after you have received your first dose.

Regularly scheduled Public Health COVID-19 vaccine clinics

• COVID-19 vaccination is available every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at the Carmichael Arena in Greater Sudbury.
• COVID-19 vaccination is available every Wednesday at the Espanola Golf & Country Club, 309 Golf Club Road, Espanola.

Vaccination opportunities for the week of November 29, 2021

More opportunities may be added throughout the week. For regular updates, follow us on social media @PublicHealthSD (Facebook, Twitter). Visit us online for up-to-date clinic details, including the clinic times and mRNA vaccine brand that is planned at phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

It is possible there will not be enough doses to offer vaccine to everyone who attends a walk-in, pop-up, or mobile clinic. We appreciate everyone’s patience and more opportunities will be available.

Tuesday, November 30

Appointment and walk-in clinic

• Carmichael Arena, Greater Sudbury
• Mindemoya Missionary Church, Mindemoya, Manitoulin Island

Wednesday, December 1

Appointment only clinic

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ Chapleau office, Chapleau

Appointment and walk-in clinic

• Carmichael Arena, in partnership with Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, Greater Sudbury
• Espanola Golf & Country Club, Espanola
• Walden Kinsmen Hall, Lively, Greater Sudbury

Thursday, December 2

Appointment only clinic

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ Chapleau office, Chapleau

Appointment and walk-in clinic

• Carmichael Arena, Greater Sudbury

Friday, December 3

Appointment and walk-in clinic

• Dr. Edgar Leclair Community Centre and Arena, Azilda
• Queen Elizabeth II Public School, 32 Dell Street, Greater Sudbury
• Markstay Pentecostal Church, 12 Millichamp Street, Markstay

Saturday, December 4

Appointment and walk-in clinic

• Carmichael Arena, Greater Sudbury

Pharmacies and primary care

With many pharmacies and primary care providers providing COVID-19 vaccination, there are even more options available to get your first or second dose locally, every week. Visit covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations (Government of Ontario) for a list of pharmacies in Ontario offering COVID-19 vaccination and for booking information or contact your primary care provider.

Flu and COVID-19

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, getting your flu shot is also important to help save lives and reduce the burden on our health care system. The influenza and COVID-19 vaccines can be safely administered at the same time. The influenza vaccine is readily available at many locations throughout the community, including local pharmacies and health care providers’ offices.

Questions about vaccination

Whether you have questions about getting your first or second dose of vaccine or you have questions about youth vaccination, our clinic immunizers as well as our call centre staff can help answer your questions. Your health care provider is also a trusted source of reliable and credible information. Choosing vaccination is a choice and everyone deserves to have the information they need to be well informed.

Vaccine brands offered and supplies

All Public Health clinics offer one of two mRNA vaccine brands—either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech—and these can be safely interchanged. Based on vaccine supplies, the vaccine brand planned for use at any clinic is subject to change, possibly with limited notice. We encourage you to ask our immunizers for more information to help you make an informed decision and feel comfortable about getting either vaccine brand. To learn which mRNA vaccine brands are planned for our clinics, visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

Eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines

• Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty pediatric dose (10 micrograms) is approved for children turning 5 years old by the end of 2021 (born in 2016).
• Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty (30 micrograms) is approved for youth turning 12 years old before the end of 2021 to age 17. The Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty is preferentially recommended for individuals aged 18 to 24 years old and the only approved vaccine for youth aged 12 to 17.
• Everyone aged 25 and over can receive either Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty or Moderna Spikevax. These 2 mRNA vaccines can be safely interchanged.
• Anyone who received their first dose of vaccine more than 56 days ago (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty or Moderna Spikevax).
  • The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and Ontario Ministry of Health recommend an optimal interval of 8 weeks (56 days) between first and second doses of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty or Moderna Spikevax). According to NACI, there is emerging evidence that longer intervals between the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines result in more robust and durable immune response and higher vaccine effectiveness. Public Health will administer second doses 8 weeks (56 days) following the administration of a first dose, with limited exceptions.
• People who received AstraZeneca Vaxzevria 56 days ago (at least 8 weeks) and who would like to get an mRNA vaccine.

For detailed information on eligibility for first, second, and third doses, visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

Second dose appointments

Anyone eligible for a second or third dose should attend a walk-in, pop-up, or mobile clinic or book their second dose as soon as they are eligible. To book online, visit covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine or call 705.674.2299 (toll-free: 1.800.708.2505), between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. For a list of scheduled clinics, visit phsd.ca/COVID-19/vaccine-clinics.

Preparing for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment

All vaccination clinics have COVID-safety measures in place. You must not attend a clinic if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or if you are in isolation due to a COVID-19 exposure.

• Bring your health card. If you do not have a health card or your health card is expired, bring another form of government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s license, passport, Status card, or birth certificate.
• Eat and drink something before you arrive at your appointment to prevent feeling faint or dizzy while being vaccinated.
• Do not show up until 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
• Dress for the weather, you may have to wait in line if you plan on attending a walk-in clinic.
• Wear a top that allows for easy access to the upper arm such as a loose-fitting top or a t-shirt.
• Wear a mask that covers your nose, mouth, and chin.
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, do not attend the clinic.

For more information or if you have questions, please talk to trusted sources such as Public Health immunizers at COVID-19 vaccine clinics, health care providers, and pharmacists, visit phsd.ca/COVID-19 or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).